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Bassist, composer and arranger, Ricardo teaches at the
Music School of Brasília.
As a double bassist, Vasconcellos studied under Sandrino Santoro
and received his Bachelor´s Degree from the University of Brasilia (1982), in the class
of Jacques Frazunkievics. The following names were significant in his training: Pino Onnis
and Wolfgang Guttler. From 1996 to 1999, he was under the orientation of the Dutch
Hans Roelofsen, having performed in duo with him on several occasions.
At the University of Brasilia, he studied under maestro /composer
Claudio Santoro (conducting and counterpoint) for three years and Luís Gonzaga Carneiro
(instrumentation and orchestration). He has taken several courses in the areas of harmony
and improvisation (Ian Guest and Nelson Farias) and conducting (Gerard Kegelmann, Manuel
Ivo Cruz and Manuel Prestamo).
As a soloist, Vasconcellos has performed with several Brazilian
orchestras (National Theater, Goiás Philarmonic, Bahia Symphonic, Music School of
Brasilia Camerata), having also performed the first audition in Brazil of G. Bottesini´s
"Concert in F# minor for double bass and orchestra", as well as other double
bass pieces from several composers.
Simultaneously, Vasconcellos accumulated great experience in
popular music, having accompanied artists such as Nara Leão, Zé Rodrix, Antonio Adolfo,
Marisa Gata Mansa and having been a member of groups such as "Trio" and
"Instrumental et al.", bastions of the instrumental music in Brasilia in the
´70s and ´80s, respectively.
Vasconcellos has been invited by the Ministry of External
Relations Protocol since 1990 to organize and perform in musical events offered by the
President to several Heads of State, having been performer, arranger and conductor on such
occasions.
He
has a large repertoire in arrangement/orchestration for Brazilian music, having developed
a personal approach to blending popular and classical. He has written pieces by Caetano
Veloso and Gilberto Gil (interpreted by the composers themselves, conducted by Silvio
Barbato), for
the Brasília String Quartet (the CD "Classics
of Brazilian Popular Music" ), for the CD "Brasilianas" (by S.
Rabinovitz/F. Lopes) and others for soloist, choir and symphonic orchestra.
Playing in a duo with the pianist Francisca Aquino, whom he has
given countless recitals with, Vasconcellos has worked in the production of arrangements
for the String Orchestra and the Symphonic Band of Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, and in
developing a series of arrangements of Brazilian popular pieces for double bass and piano.
Vasconcellos has recently been invited to be a member of the International Society of Bassists,
whose seat is in the United States of America.
Together with Francisca Aquino, Vasconcellos presented the
recital "Brazilian Popular Songs for Double
Bass and Piano" at the ISB Convention, in Iowa City (USA), in June, 1999. They
founded, in 1999, the AssuntoGrave Musical Editions, to publish, among other titles,
their own works.
Ricardo Vasconcellos was also guest-musician for six weeks with the Netherlands
Phylarmonic Orchestra of Amsterdam.
He has performed as head of cast and taught courses in several
Brazilian cities (Goiânia, Cuiabá, Teresina and Manaus); he also gave a recital at the
IV International Meeting of Double Bassists in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
His composition "A
Taste of Brazil" was published by Ludwin Music, CA, in September 99.
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